Space Assignment This unit focuses on the earth and its surroundings. The earth is part of a changing system. Students will complete a digital information report about one planet in our Solar System.
Getting Started: First, get to know your planet. Read as much information about the planet as you can find. Try the Internet, the library; try the NASA web site, Zoom Astronomy, Nine Planets, an encyclopedia, and individual books on astronomy and the Solar System. As you're reading about your planet, take notes on key information, such as your planet's size, temperature range, its position in the Solar System, moons, atmosphere, any unusual features, when it was discovered, etc. A graphic organizer can be useful for this. Complete planet report graphic organizer before you begin digital presentation. Share your planner with a teacher.
The Structure of the Assignment: Start your assignment with an introductory paragraph that states the main ideas that you will be researching. Then write at least four to five paragraphs that clearly describe your planet. Each paragraph should cover one topic (for example, you should have one paragraph that covers the planet's location in the Solar System, how far it is from the Sun, and how long its year is). End the assignment with a closing paragraph that summarizes what you wrote and learned.
Topics to Research and Include in Your Assignment: When you research your planet; try to answer as many of the following questions as you can: The Planet's Name: What does its name mean? Many planets were named after mythological gods. Position in the Solar System: Where is your planet located (for example, Mars in the fourth planet from the Sun)? How far from the Sun does it orbit. Is its orbit unusual? Rotation on its Axis: How long does it take for your planet to rotate on its own axis? (This is one day on your planet.) Size: How big is your planet? How does it rate in terms of the other planets in terms of size (is it the biggest, the smallest)? What is your planet's mass? Gravity: What is the force of gravity at the surface of your planet? For example, how much would a 100-kilogram person weigh on that planet? Orbit: How long does it take for your planet to orbit the Sun? (This is one year on Earth.) Atmosphere: What is the composition of the atmosphere of your planet? Is it a thick or a thin atmosphere? Temperature: What is the temperature range of your planet? How does this compare to the temperature on Earth? Composition of Your Planet and its Appearance: What type of planet is it (is it rocky or a gas giant)? What is its internal composition? What does your planet look like? Moons: If there are moons orbiting your planet, describe them and when they were discovered. Rings: If there are rings orbiting your planet, describe them and when they were discovered. How Would a Human Being Fare on Your Planet: On your planet, would a person choke in the atmosphere, be squashed by the extreme gravity, float with ease, freeze, burn up, or something else? Something Special: Is there anything special about your planet? This can often be the best part of the report, taking you off on interesting topics. For example, are there 100-year-long storms on your planet? Are there giant volcanoes? Does your planet have a very tilted axis (giving it extreme seasons)? Have spacecraft visited your planet? If so, what have they discovered? Discovery of Your Planet: The planets that are not visible using the naked eye were discovered after the invention of the telescope (these are Uranus, Neptune, and Dwarf Planet Pluto). Tell when your planet was discovered and by whom.
Presentation of Assignment: You are required to prepare and create a written presentation about the planet of your choice. The presentation should include text and images. Only include images, which are copyright free.
Use Quality Work Standards Complete all parts of the project using quality work standards. Use the following checklist to ensure you cover everything. ⃞ Presentation includes sound, images, text and music ⃞ Bibliography ⃞ Check Rubric to make sure work is of high standard ⃞ Well researched, used different sites ⃞ Accurate information ⃞ Interesting ⃞ All parts completed ⃞ Appropriate maps, pictures, graphs, charts ⃞ No plagiarism; information is in my own words ⃞ Time was planned and used well ⃞ Glossary ⃞ Check that your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct. Make sure to use complete sentences and write neatly! ⃞ Proofread your assignment for errors before you hand it in
Complete the planning document by copying the graphic organiser below and pasting onto a word document.
Name PLANET REPORT GRAPHIC ORGANISER
Planet’s Name -
Image of Planet
Meaning of Planet’s Name -
Position in Solar System
Size
Moons
Rings
Gravity
Atmosphere
Temperature
Rotation on Axis
Composition of Planet
How a human being would fare on this planet
Discovery of this planet
Special information
References
The Following is a Rubric For Assessing each Part of Your Research Assignment:
.
Beginning 1
Developing 2
Accomplished 3
Excellent 4
Score
Introduction
Disorganized, no information on what is to come
Gives too little information.
Summarizes report
Concise, well-written introduction
.
Research Part 1 (the planet's name, position in the Solar System, its size, mass, gravity at the surface, orbit, length of year and day)
Does not cover all appropriate topics
Covers some of the appropriate topics.
Covers most of the appropriate topics.
All appropriate topics covered well. Also includes interesting facts.
.
Research Part 2 (the planet's atmosphere, temperature range, internal composition, moons, rings, how a person would fare on the planet, discovery, unusual features, etc.)
Does not cover all appropriate topics
Covers some of the appropriate topics.
Covers most of the appropriate topics.
All appropriate topics covered well. Also includes interesting facts.
.
Spelling/Grammar
Many spelling and grammatical errors
A few errors
Only one or two errors
Spelling and grammar perfect
.
Presentation
Illegible, messy
Almost illegible
Legible writing, accompanying illustrations
Well organized presentation, typed or written using a word processor, accompanying illustrations
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Space Assignment
This unit focuses on the earth and its surroundings. The earth is part of a changing system.
Students will complete a digital information report about one planet in our Solar System.
Getting Started:
First, get to know your planet. Read as much information about the planet as you can find. Try the Internet, the library; try the NASA web site, Zoom Astronomy, Nine Planets, an encyclopedia, and individual books on astronomy and the Solar System.
As you're reading about your planet, take notes on key information, such as your planet's size, temperature range, its position in the Solar System, moons, atmosphere, any unusual features, when it was discovered, etc. A graphic organizer can be useful for this. Complete planet report graphic organizer before you begin digital presentation. Share your planner with a teacher.
The Structure of the Assignment:
Start your assignment with an introductory paragraph that states the main ideas that you will be researching. Then write at least four to five paragraphs that clearly describe your planet. Each paragraph should cover one topic (for example, you should have one paragraph that covers the planet's location in the Solar System, how far it is from the Sun, and how long its year is). End the assignment with a closing paragraph that summarizes what you wrote and learned.
Topics to Research and Include in Your Assignment:
When you research your planet; try to answer as many of the following questions as you can:
The Planet's Name: What does its name mean? Many planets were named after mythological gods.
Position in the Solar System: Where is your planet located (for example, Mars in the fourth planet from the Sun)? How far from the Sun does it orbit. Is its orbit unusual?
Rotation on its Axis: How long does it take for your planet to rotate on its own axis? (This is one day on your planet.)
Size: How big is your planet? How does it rate in terms of the other planets in terms of size (is it the biggest, the smallest)? What is your planet's mass?
Gravity: What is the force of gravity at the surface of your planet? For example, how much would a 100-kilogram person weigh on that planet?
Orbit: How long does it take for your planet to orbit the Sun? (This is one year on Earth.)
Atmosphere: What is the composition of the atmosphere of your planet? Is it a thick or a thin atmosphere?
Temperature: What is the temperature range of your planet? How does this compare to the temperature on Earth?
Composition of Your Planet and its Appearance: What type of planet is it (is it rocky or a gas giant)? What is its internal composition? What does your planet look like?
Moons: If there are moons orbiting your planet, describe them and when they were discovered.
Rings: If there are rings orbiting your planet, describe them and when they were discovered.
How Would a Human Being Fare on Your Planet: On your planet, would a person choke in the atmosphere, be squashed by the extreme gravity, float with ease, freeze, burn up, or something else?
Something Special: Is there anything special about your planet? This can often be the best part of the report, taking you off on interesting topics. For example, are there 100-year-long storms on your planet? Are there giant volcanoes? Does your planet have a very tilted axis (giving it extreme seasons)? Have spacecraft visited your planet? If so, what have they discovered?
Discovery of Your Planet: The planets that are not visible using the naked eye were discovered after the invention of the telescope (these are Uranus, Neptune, and Dwarf Planet Pluto). Tell when your planet was discovered and by whom.
Presentation of Assignment:
You are required to prepare and create a written presentation about the planet of your choice. The presentation should include text and images. Only include images, which are copyright free.
Use Quality Work Standards
Complete all parts of the project using quality work standards. Use the following checklist to ensure you cover everything.
⃞ Presentation includes sound, images, text and music
⃞ Bibliography
⃞ Check Rubric to make sure work is of high standard
⃞ Well researched, used different sites
⃞ Accurate information
⃞ Interesting
⃞ All parts completed
⃞ Appropriate maps, pictures, graphs, charts
⃞ No plagiarism; information is in my own words
⃞ Time was planned and used well
⃞ Glossary
⃞ Check that your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct. Make sure to use complete sentences and write neatly!
⃞ Proofread your assignment for errors before you hand it in
Complete the planning document by copying the graphic organiser below and pasting onto a word document.
Name
PLANET REPORT GRAPHIC ORGANISER
The Following is a Rubric For Assessing each Part of Your Research Assignment:
1
2
3
4
Online sources
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